Lady Rockets get the best of the Cogs

It may have been their only performance of the week, but the Richmond-Burton girls’ basketball team made sure to make the most out of their efforts. The Lady Rockets did so by coming out with some intensity, playing up to their abilities and getting the job done by coming away with a victory.

By the time that the horn had sounded, it was the Rockets that were rewarded for their efforts by pulling away for the 53-42 Big Northern Conference victory over the Cogs Jan. 4 in Genoa-Kingston. The victory improved the Rockets to 9-7 overall for the season, while it keeps them in contention within league play at 4-1 on the year.

The Lady Rockets played pretty consistently on both sides of the ball throughout the contest, but it was the second quarter in particular that proved go be the difference in the game. That’s when Richmond was able to feed off of their own momentum and take control of the contest by distancing themselves from the Cogs.

The two teams battled it out in a competitive first quarter of play, as the Cogs were able to cling to a slim 15-13 advantage through the first eight minutes of play. Five different players reached for points during the stretch, while the Rockets were sparked by six points from Alex Callahan and another five points by Abby Straight, including a three pointer.

Then came the deciding second quarter, where the Rockets stepped it up and took control of the game’s rhythm. Richmond’s pressure on defense forced the Cogs into several turnovers, while at the same time limited the good looks that G-K got at the hoop.

After holding the Cogs to just a mere six points in the quarter, Richmond rallied to score a hefty 17 points of their own during the same stretch to take a 30-21 advantage into the locker room with them at the half. Sam Boettjer and Sarah Sawanson each reached for four points apiece in the quarter, as the Rockets made good on five of their eight shots from the free throw line.

The Cogs regrouped and played better to start the second half as they were able to hold their own offensively, but the Rockets were determined not to let them back into the game without a fight. Richmond held an eight-point lead heading into the final quarter of play, where they continued to pour it on and pull away for the win.

The Rockets continued to make the most of their shots from the charity stripe, where they converted six of their seven attempts in the fourth. Straight was a perfect 4-4 from the line, while Boettjer added another five points.

Straight finished with a great all-around effort on the night, where she had a game high 16 points to go along with five steals and four assists. The Rockets also received a pair of double-doubles from Callahan and Boettjer, as they both contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds in the game.